Copying-machine



P. J. CLAIRNS.l

COPYING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No. 363,799. Patentedlvlay 31, 1887.

AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER JAMES CAIRNS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COPYING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,799, dated May 31,1887.

Application tiled May 6, 1886. Serial No. 201,295. (No model.) A

T0 all whom, it may conceive:

Be it known that l, PETER JAMEs Carens, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio,haveinvented acertain newand useful Improvement in Copying-Machines; andI do hereby declare the following to be a description of the same, andofthe manner of constructing and using the invention, in such full,clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in theart to which it appertains to construct and use the saine, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates t) improvements in copying-machines; and the objectis to produce a machine which will take the place of the ordinarycopying-press and its appurtenances and simplify and cheapen the methodof copying letters, and other papers, whether written by hand or bytype-writer.

To this end the invention consists in a suit` ably-formedwater-reservoir provided with wicks of absorbent material, the ends ofwhich extend outside the reservoir and are adapted to inoisten paperover which they pass, with a roller to follow after thc wicks and do thepressing, the whole being mounted in a suitable fraine and provided witha handle for controlling the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved machine shown in operating position on a, copyingbook. Fig. 2is an end elevation showing both the wicks down in operating position.Fig. 3 is a similar elevation showing one wick caught up out of use.Fig. 4 shows the waterreservoir swung back to raise both wicks, and Fig.5is a cross section of the machine as shown in Fig. 2.

A represents the frame of the machine, shaped, preferably, as shown,made rigid, and provided with a handle, a.

B is the water-reservoir, of substantially cylindrical outline andslightly convolute in cross-section, as shown by the location of itsrespective inner and outer edges, b b, the object being to provide for alimited rotation of the reservoir without danger of discharging thefluid therefrom, as well as to furnish a pas sage and supports for theWicks C C.

The wicks C C are designed to be of a length equal to the interior ofthe reservoir and of such width that when one edge is immersed in theduid the other edge willrest in a plane with the roller and the bottomof the frame, as shown in Fig. 5.

The reservoir is further provided with pivots b2 at its ends, which arearranged off its geometric center on the side opposite the extension ofthe wicks outside the reservoir, thus throwing the greater weight on theside where the wicks project when they are turned down for use, andinsuring their action, but substantially balancing the reservoir whenturned back out of use, as shown in Fig. 4. Astop, b3, coming in contactwith the side of the frame, prevents the reservoir from turning down onits pivots beyond a fixed point, and a springcatch, b", on the frameengages the stop when the reservoir is raised.

In case the machine is used to copy only ordinary manuscript, asufficient amountofmoistnre may be supplied by a single wick, in whichcase the outer wick, designed for use when copying matter written'by atypewriter, which requires more moisture, may be turned back, as shownin Fig. 3. This wick is therefore furnished with a suitably-curvedsheath or case, d, hingedto the reservoir, a catch, d', attached to thereservoir at any suitable point, serving to hold it back out of workingposition. The inner wick passes between two parallel plates, d2 d2,soldered to the back of the reservoir, and of course turning with it.The

'wicks are controlled in respectto feed by a series of spur-wheels, e,mounted on rods extending through the holders of the wicks thus formed,in the same manner as the wicks of ordinary lamps.

The reservoir is filled, preferably, through an opening in its side,covered by a watertight cap, g. y

The roller H isjournaled in the rear of the frame, and, the paper beingmoistened by the wicks, it makes the impressions by being borne upon bythe hand.

A blottcr or other sheet of stift' material is usually placed under thepaper to be copied to insure a perfect copy, as shown in Fig. l, where Irepresents the letter and Kthe blotter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

IOO

l. In n copying machine, n supportingframe, a roller, and aduid-reservoir pivoted in the frame in advance of the roller and havingawiclr fed by the reservoir for moistening -the paper, substantially asset forth.

2. In a copying machine, :t supportingframe, n. Water-reservoir providedwith Wicks and constructed to oseillate within fixed limits in saidframe, :ind a roller, substantially ns set forth.

3. In a copying-machine, it reservoir eonstructed substantially as shown:rnd described and having inner and outer edges, as b b', and Wicks ofabsorbent material passing between said edges, with a rollerbehind thereservoir, and a supporting-frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In :L copying machine, :t supportingframe and a roller mounted in theframe, in

combination with n duid-reservoir pivoted eeeentrieally in said frameand carrying Wicks, substantially as set forth.

5. In a copying-machine, :L Huid-reservoir carrying Wicks, one of whichis provided with a hinged holder adapted to be held ont of use, incombination With a roller and a, snpportingframe, substantially as setforth.

6. In a eopying-maehine, a. supportingframe and :L roller mountedtherein, in Combinzttion with a flnid-reservoir pivoted in the framebefore the roller, absorbent Wicks adjustable in said reservoir, andstops for limiting its rotary movement, substantially its set forth.

' PETER JAMES GAIRNS. Witnessesz J. B. FAY, JAMES WHITE.

